Welcome to the African Immigrant Professional Development Conference
Background
In the Spring of 2018, during my dissertation defense, I was asked by one of the audience members, “what are you going to do to ensure that the findings of your dissertation are shared with the African community?” without giving the question much thought, I responded that I would do a community presentation. Initially, the idea was to present my dissertation findings to a group of family and friends. However, I realized that I could reach a broader audience and have more impact on the community. I solicited the help of one of my biggest cheerleaders, Margretta Getaweh, Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships at Planned Parenthood North Central States, and a colleague, Rita Jackson Apaloo, author of African Women Connect: How I started and grew a networking group of African immigrant women for friendship, business, and community to organize the first African Immigrant Professional Development Conference.
The African Immigrant Professional Development Conference (AIPDC) is a conference that is geared towards bringing African immigrant professionals from all sectors, to provide training and networking resources that would help elevate their professional network. We aspire to provide African immigrant professionals and students with skills and resources to attain professional success. We believe that through this conference, African immigrants can learn from others who have successfully navigated the American labor market and start developing meaningful networking relationships to help build social capital. With African immigrants playing a vital role in the labor force, any under-utilization of their capabilities would deny Minnesota employers the opportunity for African immigrants to contribute meaningfully to the labor market.
AIPDC is a program of the Center for Immigrant Career Advancement (CICA) and is organized by a team of volunteers.
Meet Our Team:
S. Miata Getaweh
Rita Jackson Apaloo
Clare Rodrigues- Henderson
Margretta Getaweh
Alveria Clarke
In the Spring of 2018, during my dissertation defense, I was asked by one of the audience members, “what are you going to do to ensure that the findings of your dissertation are shared with the African community?” without giving the question much thought, I responded that I would do a community presentation. Initially, the idea was to present my dissertation findings to a group of family and friends. However, I realized that I could reach a broader audience and have more impact on the community. I solicited the help of one of my biggest cheerleaders, Margretta Getaweh, Director of Community Outreach and Partnerships at Planned Parenthood North Central States, and a colleague, Rita Jackson Apaloo, author of African Women Connect: How I started and grew a networking group of African immigrant women for friendship, business, and community to organize the first African Immigrant Professional Development Conference.
The African Immigrant Professional Development Conference (AIPDC) is a conference that is geared towards bringing African immigrant professionals from all sectors, to provide training and networking resources that would help elevate their professional network. We aspire to provide African immigrant professionals and students with skills and resources to attain professional success. We believe that through this conference, African immigrants can learn from others who have successfully navigated the American labor market and start developing meaningful networking relationships to help build social capital. With African immigrants playing a vital role in the labor force, any under-utilization of their capabilities would deny Minnesota employers the opportunity for African immigrants to contribute meaningfully to the labor market.
AIPDC is a program of the Center for Immigrant Career Advancement (CICA) and is organized by a team of volunteers.
Meet Our Team:
S. Miata Getaweh
Rita Jackson Apaloo
Clare Rodrigues- Henderson
Margretta Getaweh
Alveria Clarke
